MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) Given Average Rating of “Moderate Buy” by Brokerages

MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) has earned an average rating of “Moderate Buy” from the thirteen ratings firms that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price target among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $135.17.

Several brokerages have recently issued reports on MKSI. Benchmark decreased their price objective on MKS Instruments from $142.00 to $135.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 14th. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their target price on MKS Instruments from $128.00 to $129.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, February 14th. Needham & Company LLC cut their target price on MKS Instruments from $145.00 to $140.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, May 9th. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on MKS Instruments from $85.00 to $93.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, May 9th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an “overweight” rating and set a $140.00 target price on shares of MKS Instruments in a research report on Thursday, February 13th.

Insider Buying and Selling at MKS Instruments

In other MKS Instruments news, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $92.46, for a total value of $25,426.50. Following the transaction, the director now owns 17,384 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,607,324.64. This represents a 1.56% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Gerard G. Colella sold 8,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $104.53, for a total value of $836,240.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 60,017 shares in the company, valued at $6,273,577.01. The trade was a 11.76% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.57% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On MKS Instruments

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Northern Trust Corp grew its position in shares of MKS Instruments by 4.2% during the 1st quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 634,204 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $50,831,000 after buying an additional 25,822 shares in the last quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group grew its position in shares of MKS Instruments by 1,168.3% during the 1st quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group now owns 799 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $64,000 after buying an additional 736 shares in the last quarter. Ethic Inc. grew its position in shares of MKS Instruments by 7.2% during the 1st quarter. Ethic Inc. now owns 17,863 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $1,434,000 after buying an additional 1,196 shares in the last quarter. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of MKS Instruments during the 1st quarter worth $234,000. Finally, Sit Investment Associates Inc. grew its position in shares of MKS Instruments by 1.8% during the 1st quarter. Sit Investment Associates Inc. now owns 39,125 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $3,136,000 after buying an additional 700 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 99.79% of the company’s stock.

MKS Instruments Stock Up 2.8%

Shares of MKSI opened at $93.32 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.33, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 1.80. MKS Instruments has a 1 year low of $54.84 and a 1 year high of $147.40. The business’s 50 day simple moving average is $75.79 and its 200-day simple moving average is $97.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.93, a current ratio of 3.19 and a quick ratio of 2.04.

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 7th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.42 by $0.29. The business had revenue of $936.00 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $913.59 million. MKS Instruments had a return on equity of 18.94% and a net margin of 5.30%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 7.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.18 EPS. As a group, equities analysts expect that MKS Instruments will post 6.94 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

MKS Instruments Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 6th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, May 27th will be given a $0.22 dividend. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.94%. MKS Instruments’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 26.27%.

About MKS Instruments

MKS Instruments, Inc provides foundational technology solutions to semiconductor manufacturing, electronics and packaging, and specialty industrial applications in the United States, Germany, China, South Korea, and internationally. It operates through Vacuum Solutions Division (VSD), Photonics Solutions Division (PSD), and Material Solutions Division (MSD) segments.